Hawick 27-year-old fined £450 for disrupting hunt's New Year's Day rideout with careless driving

Dylan Scott then drove off in a careless manner, swerving from side to side and causing fear and alarm among the horses, riders and their pack of 30 hounds.

A pony with a young girl on its back bolted off during the commotion, causing the child distress, the court heard.

Scott, 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving and causing fear and alarm to hunt members in Victoria Road in Hawick on January 1.

As he already had seven penalty points on his driving licence, he faced the prospect of a ban under the 12-point totting-up procedure, but sheriff Peter McCormack decided to hand out only four further points, as well as fining Scott £450.

Procurator fiscal Fraser Mathieson said the Buccleuch Hunt was holding its annual new year rideout with 30 active riders, 30 hounds and members of the public on foot watching.

He explained: “The road was not officially closed, but there were marshals present and the road was effectively closed.”

The fiscal said that as the horses went along Victoria Road they became aware of a vehicle driving quickly past them and came to a standstill.

He continued: “The accused appeared to put the vehicle in neutral and revved the vehicle excessively.

“It caused a number of horses to be spooked and rear up and it was causing riders to be at risk of falling off their horses.

“A young girl’s pony took off, causing her distress.

“The vehicle revved again and headed off, but the registration number was noted by members of the hunt.”

Scott was observed further down Victoria Road revving excessively and losing control and swerving around the roadway, and the matter was then reported to the police.

Mr Mathieson concluded: “The event caused distress and anxiety to members of the hunt.”

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said it was accepted that his client’s actions had been unintentional and were down to a combination of Scott being unable to control the vehicle at the time and its exhaust having been modified, making it inappropriate to be driven beside horses and dogs, rather than a deliberate attempt to disrupt proceedings.

Mr Patrick added: “It was not his intention to cause alarm or distress, but he accepts that is what happened.”

Mr McCormack told Scott it had been inconsiderate to cause such a noise near horses and young people and he had been fortunate there hadn’t been more serious consequences.

He also pointed out that one more motoring offence will result in automatic disqualification.

In addition to being fined, Scott, of Minto Place in Hawick, was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.